कौन हमें बतलाएगा

कौन है चांपू, कौन है तेलू?

कैसे समझ में आएगा,

क्या है हकीक़त, क्या अफ़साना,

कौन हमें बतलाएगा|

इश्क-ए-जूनून की रंज से परेशां,

हमने तो इकरार किया,

उनके दिल की धड़कन को तो,

कोई वाईज़ ही सुन पायेगा|

फ़लसफ़े कितने पढ़ डाले,

मौज-ओ-सुकून की तलाश में,

खुद को पढ़ लो यार यदि,

राज़ जीवन का खुल जायेगा|

तिश्नगी मुझे भी है यारों,

दौलत की और शोहरत की,

दिल में चैन गर फिर भी रहा न,

किस काम मेरे वो आएगा|

जीवन की लम्बी राह में,

पग पग पर कांटे बिखरे हैं,

तुम ही बताओ ऐ मौला,

एक इंसा अकेला कैसे लड़ पायेगा?|

अरदास मेरी तुमसे ऐ खुदा,

कबूल मेरी ये दुआ करो,

देना न किसी को दर्द-ए-मोहब्बत,

दीवाना बन मर जायेगा|

शब्दार्थ:  चांपू = Slang for ‘someone smart’, तेलू = Slang for ‘someone lackadaisical’, अफ़साना = Story, इश्क-ए-जूनून = Crazy love, रंज = Pain, इकरार = Agree/Accept, वाईज़ = Preacher/Wise person, फलसफा = Philosophy, मौज-ओ-सुकून = Peace & joy, तिश्नगी = Thirst

A Short Treatise on Tamma tamma logey tamma (तम्मा तम्मा लोगे तम्मा)

If the above title sounds as some kind of ad jingle and ‘tamma’ (तम्मा) appears to be a FMCG product - you are not alone. With such catchy tune, it is difficult to resist its appeal.

So what is tamma? Is it a promise of achhe din which shall come some(?) day? Or is it a new gadget offered in bumper discount  on those e-commerce sites ? Or is it some kind of chumma¹ which was supposed to be given on the day of previous Jummah²?

Unless we track down the creators of this great tamma tamma , it is difficult to say for sure- what is tamma? However, that shouldn’t stop us from hazarding a guess. We don’t have paucity of time really and this shall be much needed break from that WhatsApp chat group.

Prima facie tamma looks like a hard nut to crack. It needs nothing less than dialectical analysis (whatever that is) and being no Marxist scholar, I leave it to you and your leftist friends to figure that out. That takes us to economic study of tamma. Could tamma be harbinger of the next stock rally? Or it is a new name of demonizing errrrr demonetizing effort by the Govt? Tamma might be a new concept in game theory where it is eventually a zero sum game i.e. it is either your tamma or mine; both of us cann’t have our tammas at the same time.

What fun is tamma if we cann’t have it together? We, therefore, need to understand its plausible socio-political ramifications. Is it that elusive tool which could carry out social engineering and cut at the hidden roots of social inequality? We can be sure that tamma wouldn’t see light of the day and would be crushed to death by our political class. After all, what business they would’ve if tamma business gets established? Would it be revolutionary and unbelieving if tamma is the secret symbol of a political party in making which would have internal democracy before it plans to govern the democratic republic of India?

Delving deeper, is tamma logey a call to spiritual awakening? Like that maverick sage Kabir exhorted – ‘ Santo Bhai, aai gyan ki aandhi re, bhram ki tanti sabai udani, maya rahe na bandhi re(संतो भाई! आई ज्ञान की आंधी रे, भ्रम की तांती सबै उड़ानी, माया रहै न बंधी रे)’³ ; it could be possible that a realized one is singing tamma tamma logey to jolt us from the deep slumber we are immersed in:

Why do you fret –O anxious mind?

Don’t project now into future,

The future is created one moment at a time,

Just like tamma carries meanings sublime

As it seems, identifying tamma is not an easy task and the millennials don’t have enough attention span to focus any more on this tamma wamma. What we can do instead is to visualize the music of the following tamma rap. Let the most rocking of Baba sehgal, Honey or Badshah sing it. We shall meditate on the awesomeness of tamma- in whichever form it is;

Tamma tamma tamma, (तम्मा तम्मा तम्मा )

Ye kya hai gorakhdhandha, (ये क्या है गोरखधंधा)

Mere baap ka nahi, tere baap ka nahi,(मेरे बाप का नहीं, तेरे बाप का नहीं)

To kiska hai ye munda, (तो किसका है ये मुंडा)

Jahan se bhi aaya ho, jo bhi ise laya ho,(जहाँ से भी आया हो, जो भी इसे लाया हो)

Mauka sahi hai ye, dhokha nahi hai ye, (मौका सही है ये, धोखा नहीं है ये)

Offer ka ise maal samajh ke, (ऑफर का इसे माल समझ के)

1+1 ka plan samajh ke, (1+1 का प्लान समझ के)

Le lo tum bhi tamma, le lo tamma tamma! (ले लो तुम भी तम्मा, ले लो तम्मा तम्मा)

(Here is the link to the song

https://youtu.be/SK5FdvcLaY0

Put on your ear phone, raise the volume and get lost in it)

Note:

·   Chumma¹ – Kiss

·   Jummah² – Friday, when muslims offer prayer of Jummah

·   Santo bhai…³ – O fellow saints! There is gale of light and knowledge. Now, the cottage of ignorance has been dismantled gone away and temptation and attachment no longer trap me) 

बेसब्री

कह न सके हम, ये मेरी सांसों की सच्चाई है,

तू है तो रब है, वरना जीना रुसवाई है|

तुम्हें भूलते भी हैं, तो फिर याद करने को,

तेरी चाहत, मेरे वजूद की रानाई है|

एक मुद्दत हो गए, आपके दीदार को,

बहार मेरे कूचे में, इस बरस भी नहीं आई है|

ये जो फासले हैं, मेरे और तेरे दरमियाँ,

आगे बढ़ो तो वस्ल है, बैठे रहो तो खाई है|

ढूंढते हो आशियाँ, यूँ ही दर-ब-दर,

तुम्हारा मकां तो, मेरे दिल की गहराई है|

हिज्र के लम्बी रात की, आखिर कब होगी सहर?

आ भी जाओ अब, बेताब हसरतों ने ली अंगड़ाई है|

कुछ मेरी खता होगी, कुछ तेरी गलतियाँ,

ये है इश्क की मुश्किलें, नहीं किसी की बेवफाई है|

शब्दार्थ: रब - God, रुसवाई - Disgrace, रानाई - Beauty, दीदार - Sight, कूचा – Street, वस्ल - Union of lovers, आशियाँ - House, दर-ब-दर – Door to door, हिज्र – Separation, सहर – Morning, हसरतों - Desires, बेताब – Impatient, खता – Mistake  

आज़ादी नहीं कुछ काम की

आज़ादी नहीं कुछ काम की, जो बस लिखी हो नाम की,

अभिवयक्ति कुंठित यदि रहे, भय व्याप्त हो प्रतिकार का,

शोषित रहे जन-गण, गलत उपयोग हो अधिकार का, 

नि:शक्त हो युव-बल यदि, अवसर नहीं रोज़गार के,

दुर्बल रहे बचपन, बिना मज़बूत शिक्षा, स्वास्थ्य के,

ऐसी आज़ादी नहीं है काम की, ये बस लिखी है नाम की|

कथनी-करनी में जहाँ, भेद अति व्यापक रहे,

मन की सच्चाई नहीं, बस तन की सज्जा पूज्य हो,

प्रतिभाओं की आहुति चढ़े, भेड़चाल की दौड़ में,

नाकामियों के डर से, अगर कोशिशें कमज़ोर हों ,

आज़ादी कहाँ, किस बात की? दीखती है बस नाम की|

अंतर्मन यदि हो ग्रसित, अहंकार, कटुता, क्रोध से,

संतोष-सागर तप्त हो, इच्छाओं के ज्वार से,

आतुर नयन, आकुल ह्रदय हो, प्रिय मिलन की आस में,

भाव संकुल, रुद्ध दृष्टि, संकल्प के अभाव में,   

आज़ादी नहीं, बंधन है वो, किस काम की, बस नाम की|

कुछ ऐसा हो, चमत्कार हो,

प्रगति हो, विकास हो,

न भूख हो, न दर्द हो,

आतंक का सर्वनाश हो,

हर दिल में भरा प्यार हो,

मानो विश्व एक परिवार हो,

आज़ादी तभी होगी सफल, सच्ची- सरल-अभिराम सी,

सर्व: हिताय, सर्व: सुखाय, जन-जन के कल्याण की | 

न जाने क्या ढूंढता हूँ मैं

न जाने क्या ढूंढता हूँ मैं,

एहसास दर्द का, या दिल का सुकून?

सांसों की धड़कन, या जीने की वजह?

फिज़ा है मायूस, हवा है खामोश,

तेरे बिन सब है सूना,

साथिया तू है कहाँ?

कोई मंजिल अब नहीं, रास्ते हैं अंजान,

कोई हसरत अब नहीं, हौसलें हैं पशेमान,

एक टीस सी है बस, चीरती रहती मुझे,

तेरी तलाश है हर पल, हर पल तेरी तलाश,

तेरे बिन सब है सूना,

साथिया तू है कहाँ?

तुम ही थे मेरी दौलत, तुम से  रौशन मेरा ज़हां,

वादा था जुदा न होंगे, क्यूँ कर गए यूँ तन्हा,

खुदा भी मिल जाये, तो अब चैन न मिले,

ओ मेरी खुदा!, सुन मेरी रूह की सदा,

तेरे बिन सब है सूना,

साथिया तू है कहाँ?

अश्क भी नहीं बहते, जम सा गया है दर्द,

हर इलाज़ बे-असर है, जाने कैसा है ये मर्ज़,

तुम्हे भूलना कितना भी चाहा, ये कोशिश है नाकाम,

मौत जब तक आती नहीं, अब ज़िन्दगी तेरे नाम,

तेरे बिन सब है सूना,

साथिया तू है कहाँ?

'तुम खामोश हो तो रहो'

तुम खामोश हो, तो रहो,

तुम्हारे सूने लफ़्ज़ों की आवाज़, मुझ तलक फिर भी आती है|

तुम रूबरू नहीं, फिर भी तुम्हारी यादों की स्याही,

मेरे दिल की कलम से, नज्में लिखवाती है|

ढूंढता फिरता हूँ तुम्हे, हर दूसरे चेहरे में,

तुम्हारी जुस्तजू के जुनून ने, मुझे आशिक बना रखा है|

मोहब्बत को इबादत समझा, दिल-ओ-जान से चाहा तुम्हें,

मेरी शराफत को तुम, मेरी नाकामी समझते रहे|

ये इश्क की चालें, ये तल्खी बेनियाज़ी,

मुझे पता है ये, तुम मेरा इम्तिहान ले रहे हो|

तुम और करीब आओ, तो इज़हार करें हाल-ए-दिल,

जान से लगा के, जन्नत का रुख करें|

तमाम उम्र कर लेंगे, तुम्हारा इंतज़ार तो मगर,

शायद इतना टूट जायेंगे,  तुम्हे आगोश में न ले पाएंगे|

ये तुम्हारी लम्बी ख़ामोशी, दबा गुस्सा, एक अंदाज़ तो है,

जान लो मगर, नज़रों से गिरा दिया तो उठा न पाउँगा|

ये दुनिया है गर एक झूठा सपना, और ज़ज्बात महज़ खिलौने,

तो ये दर्द का एहसास, इतना सच्चा क्यूँ है?

ऐ खुदा, तू तो कोई चालबाज़ जालिम नहीं,

फिर जो मेरा हक है, क्यूँ मयस्सर नहीं मुझे ?

Loneliness

It is sometimes difficult to experience the feelings which crop up inside. You don’t even recognize what is curling within your heart. How can it be expressed then? It must nevertheless be said; if not to others, then to oneself.

It’s been going on for many years. They would meet occasionally over a cup of coffee or for a theatre show. They would look at each other and talk, exploring their own certainties about each other.

‘What do you plan to do then?’  He asked

‘I haven’t thought about it. Just that it’s not great. I am doing it as a stop gap arrangement to accomplish something tangible.’ She told about her new job which was about setting up the entire retail infrastructure of a fashion brand

‘You are nowhere satisfied. Earlier you had problem with your advisory job that it was all airy stuff discordant with reality. Now, you are in thick of the action and still you crib’.

It was disconcerting to hear that. He always did it. If she looked at him, he was probably doing worse than her. His credentials could nowhere match that of hers. But the way he presented it, his failures also sounded as if those were part of his bigger game plan.

Is she too straightforward and honest? Can everything be dubbed as success or failure by awarding marks between 1 and 100? Anything comes at a cost. You don’t get your perfect world anywhere. What’s wrong to feel bad about something which is not right for you? Isn’t it proper to aspire for the state where you are free to be fully creative?

‘I might try my hands at entrepreneurship. I am thinking strongly about it’ she uttered

They were sitting outside a small restaurant beside a highway. Let’s order something- she suggested and got up to place order.

What would you take?  

‘Nothing’

‘Are you sure? – she asked’

He half smiled, nodded in negative and watched her getting up.She went inside the restaurant to the counter and placed the order. 

He smiled wryly and tilting his head to left as if to gain a posture of higher expertise and asked  – ‘What exactly do you plan to do? Have you made a business plan?’

‘To be frank – No! Some potential ideas are there but each has its own risks, resource requirements and returns’. She went on describing couple of ideas, their merits, her vision and her apprehensions about being able to gather enough resources. He was still ensconced in that posture and was piercingly looking at her- probably to see her burst her own balloon of plans.

Why she used to do that? It always appeared as if she was explaining and defending herself. Was she too risk averse? Was she too self critical? Was she always trying to prove herself to him?

It was difficult to analyze these things howsoever self critical she tried to be. She nevertheless pondered over their meeting; what he said, how he said, how he reacted? She reflected on her short comings. She had gained weight. She needed to work on her wardrobe. She had to become more assertive; probably more flamboyant like those other girls. How those girls acted which made guys turn and give another look to them? Was it their physical beauty, inner glow or some psychological charm- trick they played?

He had a change of mind. He too wished to have a cup of coffee and ordered it. 

There was an awkward silence. She poured one sachet of brown sugar into her coffee and stirred it without looking at him. She was kind of alone even when sitting here with him. She felt the warmth of the cup by holding it from the sides and took one sip. It sent a fresh wave of energy to her presence.

‘Yes, it’s not easy’, she said self reflectively. She wanted to ask what had been going on in his life. He had started an e-commerce company with few friends. Did he have a long term plan or was he floating on the wave of herd behaviour.    

‘So how is it going with you? When are you launching it?

‘We are working on the supply chain and have recruited some developers for the website. In next 3 months we should go live.’ He said it in his usual confident manner but deep within- it lacked conviction. She could sense it in the air around them. However, his nonchalant way of expression shut her up.

In midst of all this conversation, she was scanning for that click, that comfort and the chemistry to strike. There was tension but it lacked the spark.

They had finished their coffee. She felt as if he had been gazing at her. She too looked him into the eye, to explore something intense.

She was intrigued. She wanted to be sure of them; him and her. Every meeting was supposed to somehow nudge them towards a destination. It however, turned out to be a random wandering.

How have you come? Shall I drop you? He asked

‘No, thanks! I have parked my car in the basement.’ She smiled at him. He flashed a smile too. They bid good bye to each other. It could’ve been warmer.

She started her car, paid the money to the parking guy and drove out. The radio was on. There was a song by lataji ‘agar mujhse mohabbat hai, mujhe sab apne gham de do ..’. She raised the volume. The traffic was orderly and smooth.

Suddenly there was intense build up of feelings and tears started rolling down her cheek. The moving car, the passing vehicles, the standing trees - everything was flowing with that music.

She said to herself – ‘Loneliness is just a feeling’.